Book Description

"In recent years, the need for accurate, reliable and interpretable measurements of environmental radiation and radioactivity has increased steadily. Such requirements as the assessment of exposure to man from natural and manmade sources, the evaluation of compliance with governmental regulations, knowledge of the movement and retention of manmade radionuclides due to man's use of such materials, and the investigation of geological processes and atmospheric phenomena have all contributed to this need. This report presents a unified and systematic consideration of environmental radiation measurements, especially with respect to the identification and characterization of smalll radiation fields and small concentrations of specific radionuclides, and the even smaller variations or changes in them. The role of measurements in the realistic assessment of dose to man through critical pathways is emphasized, serving as an introduction to the detailed discussions on sampling and sample analysis for radioactivity. Finally, the future needs and uses of environmental measurements, of new instrumentation, and of improved interpretations of the results are presented." --From Preface, page iii.